[Informal caregivers of elderly people in South Tyrol. A qualitative assessment of home care situation].

Within the framework of a pilot project in the sanitary district of Bruneck (sanitary establishment of South Tyrol), the concept of care management is being investigated both practically and scientifically for informal caregivers of elderly people in need of care since 2009 the results of the qualitative assessment of the homecare situation. The assessment before the intervention will form the basis for further design and implementation of individual stress-reducing and supportive offers for the informal caregivers. Using a semi structured interview guideline twelve problem-centered interviews with informal caregivers were conducted and analysed according to Mayring's content analysis technique (2007). Informal caregivers are exposed to burdens in social, physical and mental areas. Own resources, family ties and support reduce stress and burdens caused by the homecare situation. The need of individual and continuous support of families and implications for further measures of care management can be deduced from the results. There is a need of support in the areas coping strategies, empowerment and direct stress reduction with regard to the homecare situation through education, training, counselling and the interconnection of social and health services.